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How to get there: Highway A7 (Genoa-Serravalle-Milan) exit at Arquata Scrivia – Vignole Borbera.
The large Borbera Valley belongs to the Province of Alessandria and it has a past of Ligurian traditions that are still present today. A vast plateau extends towards the hills and mountains and it highlights the rural culture of many towns that preserve the evident traces of an archaic farming organization. Vignole Borbera is the county seat of the district.
Its history dates back to when Libarna was abandoned and it seems that for the construction of the first buildings they used materials that were recuperated from the destruction of the flourishing Roman city. The town leads to Arquata and here you will also find restored places as well as residential areas that are surrounded by a rich industrial area, but it also has a water park that offers thousands of fun things to do. Between Arquata, Serravalle, and Vignole you will find at the foot of the famous Sanctuary della Madonna del Monte Spineto the town of Stazzano.
Near the Gardella Valley there is the Historical Museum that has interesting specimens of flora, fauna and minerals. Going up the street that is parallel to the torrent you will reach Borghetto, which is a small Medieval town that offers you a view of the Roman Oratory of St. Michele, the Church of St. Anthony, and a towered door with ruins of the stronghold.
A little further ahead there is Persi with the Parish Church that has two 17th century canvases. Here the landscape highlights a rare beauty of the “narrow” canyons caused by the erosions of the Borbera Valey. The street continues towards Cantalupo Ligure where you can encounter other picturesque towns such as: Albera Ligure and Cabella Ligure that will take you to the ski resort of Capanne di Cosola. Rocchetta Ligure is also wonderful and it has the Casa Stazione Spinola that protected the legendary town.
The southern part highlights the historical importance of the town on the secular “Via del Sale”: the Museum della Resistenza and the Theatric Company of New York are in the 17th century Palazzo Spinola. The road to Mongiardino Ligure unites Liguria through the Vobbia Valley. At Carega Ligure there is the Musuem of Popular Culture of the Upper Borbera Valley that celebrates the farming community. At Casa del Romano there is an extraordinary environment all the way to the summit of Mount Antola.
Don’t miss the rustic water mills at Pravaglione, Mongiardino, Santamaria di Casalbusone, and Pagliolo.
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